DOJ eyes possible link between missing ‘sabungeros,’ drug war deaths

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Because of this, Remulla said they expect the ongoing search in Taal Lake in Batangas City to extend indefinitely. (File Photo: Department of Justice – Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said investigators are eyeing possible links of individuals allegedly behind the case of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight aficionados) and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the past administration’s war on drugs.

“I think that the deaths might intersect more on the death squads. The people who undertake the contractual killings may intersect somehow with the drug war and with the e-sabong. Same, may mga taong involved sa pagpatay ng tao sa (there are people involved in killing people during the) drug war and in e-sabong. That’s as far as we can trace right now, but we will have to establish clearer links to each other,” Remulla said in a media interview.

Because of this, Remulla said they expect the ongoing search in Taal Lake in Batangas City to extend indefinitely.

Technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday searched portions of the bed of Taal Lake for remains of the missing ‘sabungeros’ (cockfighting enthusiasts) allegedly dumped there.

Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, claimed that more than 100 bodies of sabungeros were dumped in the lake.

“We don’t know, there can be more kasi sa drug war, ang dami din nawalang tao (because a lot of individuals have also gone missing in the drug war). In accordance with the testimony of alias Totoy, there are more than 100 victims in e-sabong alone. Kaya lang, mukhang nakasanayan ng magtapon talaga roon. Parang gano’n na ang nangyari (It looks like the lake has become a place where bodies are routinely disposed of. That seemed to be what happened),” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the DOJ will be contacting forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun to assist in the processing of any remains recovered.

“She’s (Fortun) under medical furlough now. But she is being touted or being asked to head the Philippine Forensics Institute, which we are establishing. And she will be helping us,” he said.

He said the DOJ is also in close coordination with the Philippine National Police crime lab on the identification of possible remains.

Remulla also dismissed critics who are claiming that partisan politics is behind the efforts of the government to investigate.

“You know, with this case, our whole justice system is on trial. Believe me, there’s more to it that meets the eye. Tsaka yung mga hindi sinasabi dati, lumalabas ngayon kasi (And things not said before are now coming out). It’s about time we face the demons in our system,” he said.

“This country is full of politics and troll farms that always want to spoil whatever good things that we can do as a country. And that’s part of politics; it’s the politics that they want to practice. So be it.”